Mixed ethers and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Described herein are mixed ethers and cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations comprising mixed ethers. Certain mixed ethers have a melting range between −25° C. and +70° C., wherein the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C. These mixed ethers are obtainable for example by condensation reaction of a) 25 to 90% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 19 carbon atoms; b) 5 to 50 by weight of isostearyl alcohol; c) 0 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10 carbon atoms.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/599,966, filed Feb. 17, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD

Aspects of the present invention relate to mixed ethers, their use in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations as a petroleum jelly substitute, and cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations comprising these mixed ethers.

BACKGROUND

Petroleum jelly is a tried and tested constituent of many cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical bases for topical application. It is used very widely in leave-on and rinse-off preparations, as the basis of creams and ointments and can, for example, also be used in shower baths.

Petroleum jelly belongs to the hydrocarbon gels and is a two-phase system with 70 to 90% of a liquid phase of n- and isoparaffins and olefin hydrocarbons such as cetene, heptadecene and octadecene, and also 10 to 30% of a solid phase. The solid phase consists of a microcrystalline fraction predominantly of isoparaffins and small fractions of alicycles and a crystalline fraction of n-paraffins. The gel structure of petroleum jelly arises as a result of the formation of a framework which is formed by the longer-chain solid paraffins. These position themselves—held via van der Waals-London forces—in parallel with one another and form so-called fringed micelles since the ends of the long-chain paraffins protrude unevenly from the micelle and contribute in part to the formation of further micelles. This produces a three-dimensional framework by virtue of numerous linked-together islands of parallel long-chain paraffins into which the liquid hydrocarbons are intercalated. The corresponding composition of crystalline, microcrystalline regions and liquid hydrocarbons determines the formation of this gel structure and thus the particular rheological properties (plasticity, ductility) of petroleum jelly.

Petroleum jelly is characterized by a very wide melting range and behaves largely neutrally in chemical terms.

Predominantly, naturally obtained petroleum jelly is used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations; this is a mixture of n-paraffins, isoparaffins and hydroaromatic hydrocarbons that is produced in the residue during the refining of petroleum and which is purified by treating with concentrated sulfuric acid and bleaching earths and/or activated carbon. Different grades of petroleum jelly are produced depending on the type of purification. However, there likewise also exists a synthetically produced petroleum jelly which is obtained by dissolving paraffin and ceresin in liquid paraffin.

However, it is known that paraffins can accummulate, depending on chain length, in the liver, lymph nodes and kidneys. Time and again, it is discussed how mineral oils, being fats that are difficult to degrade, lead to an accumulation in the body and, as a result of closing the skin pores, impair the breathing of the skin or promote the development of acne. Lip care sticks containing mineral oils have therefore also already been criticized.

Despite the known good topical compatibility of paraffins, there is a continuing interest in preparations which comprise ointment bases which are characterized by production from renewable raw materials. In terms of properties, they should correspond to those of petroleum jelly. Bases hitherto for replacing petroleum jelly have relatively narrow melting ranges, and therefore the search was for possible substitute bases with a comparable broad melting range.

Even some years ago, the mixture of beeswax and plant oil served as petroleum jelly substitute. However, beeswax, being a natural product, cannot in the short term be produced in large amounts.

The international application WO 2007/107966 discloses deodorant preparations which comprise hydrogenated castor oil as petroleum jelly substitute, which is lowered in its viscosity by castor seed oil, liquid fatty alcohols and plant oils. It is assumed that fragrances remain for longer in these cosmetic bases compared with in the petroleum jelly-based preparations on account of the higher polarity of hydrogenated castor oil.

The synthesis of ethers from alcohols is a long-established process in the chemical industry. Short-chain ethers can be used as solvents. The condensation of primary alcohols can be catalyzed e.g. by acids or bases; ethers are formed as reaction product.

For instance, there are various ethers available on the cosmetics market, e.g. Cetiol OE® from BASF Personal Care and Nutrition GmbH.

Sasol has various Cosmacol® ethers on the market [“Sasol Raw Materials for Cosmetics”. Sasol Olefins & Surfactants GmbH Anckelmannsplatz 1, 20537 Hamburg, Germany], e.g. COSMACOL® OE (Dioctyl ether), COSMACOL® Ether 10 (Didecyl Ether), COSMACOL® Ether 12 (Dilauryl Ether), COSMACOL® Ether 14 (Dimyristyl Ether), COSMACOL® Ether 16 (Dihexadecyl ether) and COSMACOL® SE (Distearyl ether) [“Sasol Raw Materials for Cosmetics”. Sasol Olefins & Surfactants GmbH Anckelmannsplatz 1, 20537 Hamburg, Germany].

A diisononyl ether is on the market from Nikko Chemicals (Nikkol DINE)

A common feature of these ethers is that they are only pure compounds with a defined melt behavior.

Some short-chain ethers are liquid at room temperature. They can be used for example as cosmetic emollients. Longer-chain C18 ethers are solid and have a high melting point in the range >45-50° C. High-melting compounds generally have a clearly defined melting point and are therefore not suitable as petroleum jelly substitute.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention relates to a mixed ether with a melting range of between −25° C. and +70° C. as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wherein the width of the melting range is at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C. In one or more embodiments, wherein the melting range is between −22° C. and +55° C., and the width is at least 50 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a mixed ether obtainable by condensation reaction of:

-   -   a) 25 to 90% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms;     -   b) 5 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol;     -   c) 0 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and     -   d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10         carbon atoms,         wherein the mixed ether has a melting range of between −25° C.         and +70° C., as measured by differential scanning calorimetry         (DSC), and wherein the width of the melting range comprises at         least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting         range is 35±10° C. In one or more embodiments of this aspect,         the mixed ether is obtainable by condensation reaction of:     -   a) 25 to 70% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms;     -   b) 5 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol;     -   c) 1 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and     -   d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10         carbon atoms,         wherein it has a melting range of between −25° C. and +70° C.,         as measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and wherein         the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature         degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C. In one         or more embodiments, the mixed ether has a melting range between         −22° C. and +55° C., where the width of the melting range         comprises at least 50 temperature degrees and the maximum of the         melting range is 35±10° C. In some embodiments, the component a)         consists of unbranched, saturated fatty alcohols having the         following chain distribution:     -   C12 from 48-58% by weight     -   C14 from 18-24% by weight     -   C16 from 8-12% by weight     -   C18 from 11-15% by weight.

In one or more embodiments, component c) comprises n-docosanol. In some embodiments, the condensation reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 200 to 250° C. In one or more embodiments, sulfonic acid and/or methanesulfonic acid, optionally in combination with phosphoric acids, are used in the condensation reaction. Some embodiments relate to a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparation comprising the mixed ethers described above.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a mixed ether obtainable by condensation reaction of

-   -   a) 25 to 50% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms;     -   b) 25 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; and     -   c) 15 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms,         wherein it has a melting range, measured by differential         scanning calorimetry, between −25° C. and +70° C., where the         width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature         degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C. In one         or more embodiments, the ether is obtained by condensation         reactin of:     -   a) 25 to 50% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms;     -   b) 25 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol;     -   c) 15 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and     -   d) 10 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10         carbon atoms.

In some embodiments, the ether is obtained by condensation reactin of:

-   -   a) 25 to 35% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms;     -   b) 33 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; and     -   c) 25 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms.

In one or more embodiments, the mixed ether has a melting range between −22° C. and +55° C., where the width of the melting range comprises at least 50 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C. In some embodiments, the component a) consists of unbranched, saturated fatty alcohols having the following chain distribution:

-   -   C12 from 48-58% by weight     -   C14 from 18-24% by weight     -   C16 from 8-12% by weight     -   C18 from 11-15% by weight.

In one or more embodiments, component c) comprises n-docosanol. In some embodiments, the condensation reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 200 to 250° C. In one or more embodiments, sulfonic acid and/or methanesulfonic acid, optionally in combination with phosphoric acids, are used in the condensation reaction. Some embodiments relate to a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparation comprising the mixed ethers described in this aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A mixture of ethers is described which is comparable with petroleum jelly in terms of sensorics and application properties. As used herein, “petroleum jelly,” also known as “petrolatum,” “white petrolatum,” “soft paraffin” and “multi-hydrocarbon,” refers to a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons. It is available, for example, under the trade name Vaseline®.

The product properties of the ether mixture can be adjusted in a targeted manner through optimization of the fatty alcohol composition, selection of the fatty alcohol chain length and implementation of the condensation reaction, meaning that the mixture is comparable with the application properties and sensorics of petroleum jelly and has a comparable melting range with a similar maximum.

Data for the melting range of petroleum jelly in the literature are between 35 and 60° C. The melting range varies depending on the fraction of the crystalline areas.

However, thermal analysis by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) can be used to measure the start of melting even at relatively low temperatures.

The fact that the maximum of the melting range for petroleum jelly is in the region of skin temperature and petroleum jelly is characterized by a relatively broad melting range with a slow increase from −20° C.±5° C. to 70° C.±5° C. has a substantial influence on the characteristic sensory properties of petroleum jelly.

The mixed ether formulation which has a melting behavior corresponding to petroleum jelly has therefore been selected.

Characterization of the Melting Range:

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures changes in heat flow which arise due to temperature- and time-dependent changes in the physical and chemical structure of the sample material. DSC ascertains the heat absorption of the sample material for the melting of the sample at a uniformly increasing heating rate.

Determining the change in the amount of heat can be measured in different ways. With modern DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), a distinction is made between heat-flow differential scanning calorimetry and power-compensated differential scanning calorimetry.

For measurements according to heat-flow differential scanning calorimetry (tables 1a and b), the heat-flow DSC Q100 from TA Instruments (Waters GmbH) was used.

In each case, five to ten milligrams of the sample material were weighed into small aluminum pans and hermetically encapsulated (cold-sealed). These pans were subjected to a temperature program of −80° C. to +100° C. at a heating rate of 5 K/min and the melting behavior and/or crystallization behavior was analyzed. The results were measured reproducibly.

Evaluation of samples with a non-constant baseline (on account of the temperature dependency of the heat capacity of the mixtures) and a very wide melting range is subject to considerable variations with customary optical means by reading off the values from the diagrams obtained, meaning that the temperature values have been established by reference to enthalpy values.

A linear peak evaluation from −60° C. to the end of melting (lay between +40° C. and +80° C.) was carried out. The enthalpy calculated in this way was viewed percentually. Consequently, melting ranges can be indicated by choosing the temperature at 5% of the total melt enthalpy as starting point and at 99% of the total melt enthalpy as the end of the range (table 1a). This selection corresponded to the values visually ascertained approximately from the diagram.

The temperature maximum ascertained was the temperature value which arose for the maximum peak. This could be read off with adequate precision from the diagrams (table 1b-right-hand column).

TABLE 1a Enthalpy-Temperature trace of the DSC measurement T T 1% 5% 10% 50% 90% 95% 99% E in (α) (Ω) E T E T E T E T E T E T E T J/g in in in in in in in in in in in in in in in in total ° C. ° C. J/g ° C. J/g ° C. J/g ° C. J/g ° C. J/g ° C. J/g ° C. J/g ° C. A 149 −60 47 1 −35 7 −16 15 −5 74 23 134 34 141 35 147 37 75-25 B 177 −60 54 2 −19 9 4 18 15 88 28 159 37 168 38 175 39 90-10 C 149 −60 62 1 −31 7 −10 15 1 75 33 134 49 142 51 148 53 33-33-33 D 120 −60 60 1 −40 6 −20 12 −8 60 27 108 46 114 48 118 51 25-25-50 E 147 −60 56 1 −36 7 −17 15 −5 73 27 132 42 140 44 145 47 50-17-33 F 157 −60 51 2 −34 8 −14 16 −2 79 25 142 37 149 38 156 41 70-05-25 G 153 −60 58 2 −39 8 −21 15 −12 77 23 138 42 145 46 152 49 13-13-25- 25-25 Petro- 73 −60 76 1 −44 3 −18 7 −5 37 22 66 46 70 55 73 67 leum jelly Hansen Petro- 64 −60 76 1 −48 3 −32 6 −17 32 26 57 50 61 56 63 67 leum jelly Enzborn Petro- 63 −60 76 1 −49 3 −30 6 −13 32 29 57 54 60 59 63 67 leum jelly Sigma Aldrich Petro- 90 −60 75 1 −38 4 −10 −9 0 45 24 81 47 85 56 89 67 leum jelly VWR Prolabo

TABLE 1b Melting ranges of prepared ether mixtures Melting Melting range Mixed ethers Mixing ratio range ° C. maximum ° C. A Lorol tech-grade/iso-C18-OH 75:25 −16-37 37 B Lorol tech-grade/iso-C18-OH 90:10  4-39 28 C Lorol tech-grade/Stenol 33.3:33.3:33.3 −10-53 44 1822SR/iso-C18-OH D Lorol tech-grade/Stenol 25:25:50 −20-51 38 1822SR/iso-C18-OH E Lorol tech-grade/Stenol 50:16.7:33.3 −17-47 38 1822SR/iso-C18-OH F Lorol tech-grade/Stenol 70:5:25 −14-41 38 1822SR/iso-C18-OH G Lorol C8/Lorol C10/ 12.5:12.5:25:25:25 −21-49 35 Lorol tech-grade/Stenol 1822 SR/iso-C18-OH White different grades (4): −23-67 45 (Sigma)  Petroleum Source: Sigma Aldrich/  26 (Enzborn) jelly Hansen/VWR Prolabo/Enzborn 25 (Prolabo) 35 (Hansen) 

Aspects of the invention accordingly provide mixed ethers with a melting range, measured by differentical scanning calorimetry (DSC), between −25° C. and +70° C., where the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C.

As a result of fluctuations in the composition of petroleum jelly, especially the different fractions of crystalline areas, the values ascertained using the precise method of DSC vary, meaning that the melting range ascertained for the mixed ethers according to one or more embodiments of the invention is also in the temperature range between −25° C. and +70° C., specifically between −22° C. and +55° C. and more specifically between −20° C. and +55° C.

In this connection, the melting range does not have to span the entire width, but it should cover at least a range of 30 temperature degrees (° C.) within the temperature range between −25° C. and +70° C., specifically in the temperature range between −22° C. and +55° C. and more specifically within the temperature range between −20° C. and +55° C., but in some embodiments comprises at least 50 temperature degrees (° C.) and more specifically at least 60 temperature degrees (° C.) in its width. The maximum of the melting range here is 35±10° C., specifically 35±5° C., and thus falls approximately within the skin temperature range.

One or more embodiments therefore relate to mixed ethers with a melting range between −22° C. and +55° C., a width of the melting range of at least 50 temperature degrees and a maximum at 35±10° C.

Some embodiments relate to mixed ethers with a melting range between −20° C. and +55° C., a width of the melting range of at least 60 temperature degrees and a maximum at 35±10° C., and specifically mixed ethers with a melting range between −20° C. and +55° C., a width of the melting range of at least 60 temperature degrees and a maximum at 35±5° C.

Surprisingly, it has been found that mixed ethers which have a melting range, measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), between −25° C. and +70° C., where the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C., are obtainable by condensation reaction of

-   -   a) 25 to 90% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms     -   b) 5 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol     -   c) 0 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms and     -   d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10         carbon atoms

Some embodiments relate to mixed ethers which are obtainable by condensation reaction of

-   -   a) 25 to 70% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms and     -   b) 5 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol     -   c) 1 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms and     -   d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10         carbon atoms and which are distinguished by a melting range,         measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), between         −25° C. and +70° C., where the width of the melting range         comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the         melting range is 35±10° C.; more specifically the melting range         is between −22° C. and +55° C., the width of the melting range         is at least 50 temperature degrees and the maximum of the         melting range is 35±10° C.

One or more embodiments relate to mixed ethers obtainable by condensation reaction of

-   -   a) 25 to 50% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms and     -   b) 25 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol     -   c) 15 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms and     -   d) optionally 10 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8         and/or 10 carbon atoms         wherein they have a melting range, measured by differential         scanning calorimetry (DSC), between −25° C. and +70° C., where         the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature         degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C.;         specifically the melting range is between −22° C. and +55° C.,         the width of the melting range is at least 50 temperature         degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C.

In one or more embodiments, mixed ethers are obtainable by condensation reaction of

-   -   a) 25 to 35% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain         length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms and     -   b) 33 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol     -   c) 25 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of         20 and/or 22 carbon atoms and         wherein they have a melting range, measured by differential         scanning calorimetry (DSC), between −25° C. and +70° C., where         the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature         degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C.; in         some embodiments, the melting range is between −22° C. and +55°         C., the width of the melting range is at least 50 temperature         degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35±10° C. and in         further embodiments, the melting range is between −22° C. and         +55° C., the width of the melting range is at least 60         temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is         35±10° C.

Unbranched, saturated fatty alcohols having 12 to 18 carbon atoms are used as component a). In order to correspond as far as possible to the properties of petroleum jelly, a chain distribution of unbranched fatty alcohols which has proven particularly useful is as follows:

-   -   C12-alcohol from 48-58%     -   C14-alcohol from 18-24%     -   C16-alcohol from 8-12%     -   C18-alcohol from 11-15%.     -   This composition is available under the trade name Lorol®—“Lorol         technical-grade”. It has a solidification range of 18 to 23° C.

Component b) isostearyl alcohol (Prisorine 3515)—also isooctadecanol or isooctadecyl alcohol—is used in cosmetics as an emollient with a good spreading ability. On account of its good compatibility, this alcohol is also used in the synthesis of special surfactants. Trade names are: Aldo 66; Emery 3389; Emery H 3600; FOC 1800; Fine Oxocol 180; Jarcol I 18EX; OHV 20; Prisorine 3515; Prisorine ISOH 3515; Risonol 18SP; Speziol C 18 ISOC; Speziol C 18 Iso; Witcohol 66

Component c) consists predominantly of fatty alcohols with a chain length of 22 carbon atoms, where these may be saturated, unsaturated, branched or straight-line. In one or more embodiments, behenyl alcohol (synonym: n-docosanol) is used. Behynyl alcohol comprises at least 42%, or at least 65%, or at least 70%, of fatty alcohols of chain length C22. Fatty alcohol compositions of this type are available commercially under the name Stenol® 1822.

The optionally used component d) of the C8 fatty alcohol, and also of the C10 fatty alcohol can be saturated, unsaturated, branched or straight-chain. However, in one or more embodiments, n-octanol (octyl alcohol) is used as C8-fatty alcohol, and in further embodiments, in a grade with the chain distribution of at least 95% C8. In some embodiments, the C10 fatty alcohol used is n-decanol (decyl alcohol), and in further embodiments, has a chain distribution of at least 90% C10 chain fraction.

The mixed ethers according to one or more embodiments of the invention not only have a comparable melting range to petroleum jelly, exhibit comparable sensory properties to petroleum jelly, but they have improved application properties compared with petroleum jelly in surface-active systems since the amount of foam in formulations with mixed ethers is greater than in petroleum jelly-containing preparations.

Two selected formulations are very highly suitable for use as a petroleum jelly substitute in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations since they have a very similar melting range—between −10 and 50° C.:

The first formulation is obtainable by reacting the components a), b) and c) in equal parts. Some variants of the invention relate to preparations obtainable by reacting behenyl alcohol, C12 to C18 fatty alcohol mixture (Lorol® technical-grade) and isostearyl alcohol in the ratio 33.3:33.3:33.3.

A further formulation is obtainable by reacting the components a), b) and c) in the ratio 25:25:50, in which case specifically the composition of C12 to C18 fatty alcohols (Lorol® technical-grade), behenyl alcohol and isostearyl alcohol in the ratio 25:25:50 has the desired melting point range.

A third preparation which is distinguished by its high occlusivity is obtainable by reacting the components a), b), c), d) in the ratio 25:25:25:25, where the C8- and the C10-fatty alcohol are used in equal parts, specifically the composition of Lorol® technical-grade, behenyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, C8-fatty alcohol and C10-fatty alcohol in the ratio 25:25:25:12.5:12.5 is characterized by sensory properties which correspond to those of petroleum jelly.

Synthesis Conditions for the Condensation Reaction:

Exemplary Reaction Conditions:

The etherification starts from fatty alcohols which react under acid catalysis. Suitable acids here are in particular strong acids which react Lewis and Brönsted acid, but also combinations of two or more acids. Examples are sulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acids and trifluoromethanesulfonic acids In one or more embodiments, the acid catalyst comprises trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. In some embodiments, the acid catalyst is used in combination with phosphoric acids, in particular hypophosphorous acid. In some embodiments, a combination of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and hypophosphorous acid is used.

The reaction temperature is above 150° C., or 200 to 250° C., or 220° C.±5° C.

For the reaction, alcohols with chain lengths of C6 to C36 are possible which are linear, branched, saturated or unsaturated, with predominantly fatty alcohols having a length of 8 to 22 carbon atoms being used. In one or more embodiments, the alcohols are saturated and linear. The choice of mixtures is essential in order to be able to adjust the properties of the resulting fatty alcohol mixture in a targeted manner such that they correspond to those of petroleum jelly. The aim is a material that is semi-solid at room temperature and has a broad melting range.

It can also be used for crosslinking polyhydric alcohols having 2 to 36 carbon atoms. In one or more embodiments, the polyhydric alcohols comprise Guerbet alcohols and diols, and in some embodiments, diols with 6, 16 or 36 carbon atoms, since they bring about a further crosslinking of the alcohols.

To improve the color, bleaching can be carried out; by-products that are formed can be removed by distillation. The product itself is not distilled here since the boiling point is too high. It is possible and generally required to neutralize the acidic catalyst before the distillation; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxide solutions are suitable for this purpose.

On account of the physical, chemical and in particular rheological properties, the mixed ethers can be used to replace petroleum jelly in cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations.

Cosmetic Preparations

The preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention are suitable as a basis in all pharmaceutical preparations for topical application and all cosmetic compositions for body care and cleaning, such as e.g. body oil, baby oil, body milk, creams, lotions, sprayable emulsions, sun protection compositions and antiperspirants. They can be used particularly in surfactant-containing preparations such as e.g. liquid soaps and bar soaps, foam and shower baths, hair shampoos and hair rinses. Also possible is use as care component on tissues, papers, wipes, nonwoven products, sponges, puffs, plasters and bandages which are widespread in the hygiene and care sector (wet wipes for baby hygiene and baby care, cleansing wipes, face cleansing wipes, skincare wipes, care wipes with active ingredients to combat skin aging, wipes with sun protection formulations and insect repellants, and also wipes for decorative cosmetics or for after-sun treatment, toilet wet wipes, antiperspirant wipes, diapers, pocket tissues, wet wipes, hygiene products, self-tanning wipes). They can also be used inter alia in preparations for hair care, hair cleaning or hair coloring. They can furthermore be used in preparations of decorative cosmetics, such as, for example, lipsticks, lip gloss, make-up, foundations, powders, eye shadows, mascara and the like.

The use concentrations in the respective formulations and preparations correspond to those of petroleum jelly. The pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations comprising the mixed ethers according to one or more embodiments of the invention are therefore likewise provided by the invention.

Since the mixed ethers according to one or more embodiments of the invention, especially in surface-active preparations, have advantages over using petroleum jelly by virtue of the fact that the amount of foam is greater than in comparable petroleum jelly-containing systems, cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations comprising the mixed ethers according to one or more embodiments of the invention and interface-active substances are also provided by the invention.

Depending on the application purpose, the cosmetic formulations may comprise a series of further auxiliaries and additives, such as, for example, surfactants, further oil bodies, emulsifiers, pearlescent waxes, consistency regulators, thickeners, superfatting agents, stabilizers, polymers, fats, waxes, lecithins, phospholipids, biogenic active ingredients, UV light protection factors, antioxidants, deodorants, antiperspirants, antidandruff agents, film formers, swelling agents, insect repellants, self-tanning agents, tyrosinase inhibitors (depigmentation agents), fillers, hydrotropes, solubilizers, preservatives, perfume oils, dyes etc., which are listed below by way of example.

Suitable interface-active substances are in principle any substance which lowers the surface tension between the aqueous and nonaqueous phases. Interface-active substances comprise emulsifiers and surfactants.

In one embodiment of the invention, the preparation according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprises more than one interface-active substance. The person skilled in the art uses customary systems (e.g. emulsifier and co-emulsifier) depending on the other components.

A suitable emulsifier is in principle any interface-active substance, but in particular substances with an HLB value of from 1 to 20 according to the Griffin scale. Every emulsifier is assigned a so-called HLB value (a dimensionless value between 1 and 20, Griffin scale) which indicates whether preferred solubility in water or oil is present. Numbers below 9 indicate preferentially oil-soluble, hydrophobic emulsifiers; numbers above 11 water-soluble, hydrophilic emulsifiers. The HLB value says something about the equilibrium of the size and strength of the hydrophilic and the lipophilic groups of an emulsifier.

The solubility of the emulsifier in the two phases in practice determines the type of emulsion. If the emulsifier is more soluble in water, then a O/W emulsion is obtained. If, on the other hand, the emulsifier has a better solubility in the oil phase, a W/O emulsion is formed under otherwise identical preparation conditions.

Nonionic Emulsifiers

The group of nonionic emulsifiers includes, for example:

-   (1) Addition products of from 2 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide and/or 1     to 20 mol of propylene oxide onto linear fatty alcohols having 8 to     40 carbon atoms, onto fatty acids having 12 to 40 carbon atoms and     onto alkylphenols having 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. -   (2) C₁₂-C₁₈-Fatty acid mono- and diesters of addition products of     from 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide onto glycerol. -   (3) Sorbitan mono- and diesters of saturated and unsaturated fatty     acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms and ethylene oxide addition     products thereof. -   (4) Alkyl mono- and oligoglycosides having 8 to 22 carbon atoms in     the alkyl radical and ethoxylated analogs thereof. -   (5) Addition products of from 7 to 60 mol of ethylene oxide onto     castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil. -   (6) Polyol and in particular polyglycerol esters, such as e.g.     polyol poly-12-hydroxystearates, polyglycerol polyricinoleate,     polyglyceryl-4 laurates, polyglycerol diisostearate or polyglycerol     dimerate. Likewise of suitability are mixtures of compounds of two     or more of these substances classes, such as e.g. polyglyceryl-4     diisostearates/polyhydroxystearates/sebacates. -   (7) Addition products of from 2 to 15 mol of ethylene oxide onto     castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil. -   (8) Partial esters based on linear, branched, unsaturated or     saturated C₆-C₂₂-fatty acids, ricinoleic acid and 12-hydroxystearic     acid and polyglycerol, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sugar     alcohols (e.g. sorbitol), alkyl glucosides (e.g. methylglucoside,     butylglucoside, laurylglucoside), and polyglucosides (e.g.     cellulose), or mixed esters, and also sucrose polystearates     (commercially available as Emulgade® SUCRO, Cognis GmbH). -   (9) Polysiloxane-polyalkyl-polyether copolymers and corresponding     derivatives. -   (10) Mixed esters of pentaerythritol, fatty acids, citric acid and     fatty alcohol and/or mixed esters of fatty acids having 6 to 22     carbon atoms, methylglucose and polyols, and more specifically,     glycerol or polyglycerol.

The addition products of ethylene oxide and/or of propylene oxide onto fatty alcohols, fatty acids, alkylphenols, glycerol mono- and diesters, and also sorbitan mono- and diesters of fatty acids or onto castor oil are known, commercially available products. These are homolog mixtures, the average degree of alkoxylation of which corresponds to the ratio of the quantitative amounts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and substrate with which the addition reaction is carried out. They are W/O or O/W emulsifiers depending on the degree of ethoxylation. C_(12/18)-Fatty acid mono- and diesters of addition products of ethylene oxide onto glycerol are known as refatting agents for cosmetic preparations.

Particularly well-suited and mild emulsifiers according to one or more embodiments of the invention are polyol poly-12-hydroxystearates and mixtures thereof, which are sold for example under the names “Dehymuls® PGPH” (W/O emulsifier) or “Eumulgin® VL 75” (mixture with cocoglucosides in the weight ratio 1:1, O/W emulsifier) or Dehymuls® SBL (W/O emulsifier) from Cognis Deutschland GmbH. In this connection, reference may be made in particular to the European patent EP 766 661 B1. The polyol component of these emulsifiers can be derived from substances which have at least two, more particularly, 3 to 12 and even more particularly 3 to 8, hydroxyl groups and 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

Suitable lipophilic W/O emulsifiers are in principle emulsifiers with an HLB value of 1 to 8, which are summarized in numerous tabular works and are known to the person skilled in the art. For ethoxylated products, the HLB value can also be calculated according to the following formula: HLB=(100−L): 5, where L is the weight fraction of the lipophilic groups, i.e. of the fatty alkyl or fatty acyl groups in percent by weight in the ethylene oxide adducts.

From the group of W/O emulsifiers, partial esters of polyols, in particular of C₄-C₆-polyols, are particularly advantageous, such as, for example, partial esters of pentaerythritol or sugar esters, e.g. sucrose distearate, sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitan sesquiisostearate, sorbitan diisostearate, sorbitan triisostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan monoerucate, sorbitan sesquierucate, sorbitan dierucate, sorbitan trierucate, sorbitan monoricinoleate, sorbitan sesquiricinoleate, sorbitan diricinoleate, sorbitan triricinoleate, sorbitan monohydroxystearate, sorbitan sesquihydroxystearate, sorbitan dihydroxystearate, sorbitan trihydroxystearate, sorbitan monotartrate, sorbitan sesquitartrate, sorbitan ditartrate, sorbitan tritartrate, sorbitan monocitrate, sorbitan sesquicitrate, sorbitan dicitrate, sorbitan tricitrate, sorbitan monomaleate, sorbitan sesquimaleate, sorbitan dimaleate, sorbitan trimaleate, and technical-grade mixtures thereof. Suitable emulsifiers are also addition products of 1 to 30, or more specifically 5 to 10, mol of ethylene oxide onto the specified sorbitan esters.

Depending on the formulation, it may be advantageous to additionally use at least one emulsifier from the group of nonionic O/W emulsifiers (HLB value: 8-18) and/or solubilizers. These are, for example, the ethylene oxide adducts already mentioned in the introduction and having a correspondingly high degree of ethoxylation, e.g. 10-20 ethylene oxide units for O/W emulsifiers and 20-40 ethylene oxide units for so-called solubilizers. According to embodiments of the invention, ceteareth-12, ceteareth-20 and PEG-20 stearate are particularly advantageous as O/W emulsifiers. Suitable solubilizers include Eumulgin® HRE 40 (INCI: PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil), Eumulgin® HRE 60 (INCI: PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil), Eumulgin® L (INCI: PPG-1-PEG-9 lauryl glycol ether), and Eumulgin® SML 20 (INCI: Polysorbate-20).

Nonionic emulsifiers from the group of alkyl oligoglycosides are particularly skin-friendly and therefore preferably suitable as O/W emulsifiers. C₈-C₂₂-Alkyl mono- and oligoglycosides, their preparation and their use are known from the prior art. Their preparation takes place in particular by reacting glucose or oligosaccharides with primary alcohols having 6 to 24, or in some embodiments 8 to 22, carbon atoms. As regards the glycoside radical, it is the case that both monoglycosides, in which one cyclic sugar radical is glycosidically bonded to the fatty alcohol, and also oligomeric glycosides with a degree of oligomerization up to about 8 are suitable. The degree of oligomerization here is a statistical average value based on a homolog distribution customary for such technical products. Products which are available under the name Plantacare® or Plantaren® comprise a glucosidically bonded C₈-C₁₆-alkyl group on an oligoglucoside radical, the average degree of oligomerization of which is 1 to 2. The acylglucamides derived from glucamine are also suitable as nonionic emulsifiers. According to some embodiments of the invention, preference is given to a product which is sold under the name Emulgade® PL 68/50 by Cognis Deutschland GmbH and is a 1:1 mixture of alkyl polyglucosides and fatty alcohols. According to embodiments of the invention, it is advantageously also possible to use a mixture of lauryl glucoside, polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, glycerol and water, which is commercially available under the name Eumulgin® Eumulgin VL 75.

Suitable emulsifiers are also substances such as lecithins and phospholipids. Examples of natural lecithins which may be mentioned are the kephalins, which are also referred to as phosphatidic acids and are derivatives of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoric acids. By contrast, phospholipids are usually understood as meaning mono- and preferably diesters of phosphoric acid with glycerol (glycerol phosphates) which are generally included with the fats. In addition, sphingosines and/or sphingolipids are also suitable.

Silicone emulsifiers, for example, may be present as emulsifiers. These can be selected for example from the group of alkylmethicone copolyols and/or alkyldimethicone copolyols, in particular from the group of compounds which are characterized by the following chemical structure:

in which X and Y, independently of one another, are selected from the group H (hydrogen), and the branched and unbranched alkyl groups, acyl groups and alkoxy groups having 1-24 carbon atoms, p is a number from 0-200, q is a number from 1-40, and r is a number from 1-100.

One example of silicone emulsifiers to be used particularly advantageously within the context of the present invention are dimethicone copolyols, which are sold by Evonik Goldschmidt under the trade names AXIL® B 8842, ABIL® B 8843, ABIL® B 8847, ABIL® B 8851, ABIL® B 8852, ABIL® B 8863, ABIL® B 8873 and ABIL® B 88183.

A further example of interface-active substances to be used particularly advantageously within the context of the present invention is cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone (cetyl dimethicone copolyol), which is sold by Evonik Goldschmidt under the trade name ABIL® EM 90.

A further example of interface-active substances to be used particularly advantageously within the context of the present invention is the cyclomethiconedimethicone copolyol, which is sold by Evonik Goldschmidt under the trade name ABIL® EM 97 and ABIL® WE 09.

Furthermore, the emulsifier lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 methicone (laurylmethicone copolyol) has proven to be very particularly advantageous and is available under the trade name Dow Corning® 5200 Formulation Aid from Dow Corning Ltd. Also advantageous is a silicone emulsifier with the INCI name Cyclopentasiloxane and PEG/PG-18-18 Dimethicone, which is available for example under the trade name Dow Corning® 5225 C Formulation Aid.

A further advantageous silicone emulsifier is octyl dimethicone ethoxyglucoside from Wacker. For a water-in-silicone oil emulsion according to one or more embodiments of the invention, all known emulsifiers used for this type of emulsion can be used. In some embodiments, the water-in-silicone emulsifiers include cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone and lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 methicone [e.g. ABIL° EM 90 Evonik Goldschmidt), DC5200 Formulation Aid (Dow Corning)], and any desired mixtures of both emulsifiers.

A suitable anionic O/W emulsifier is e.g. the product available under the INCI name Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate (trade name Eumulgin® Prisma, Cognis GmbH).

Surfactants

In one embodiment of the invention, the preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprise at least one surfactant as interface-active compounds. Interface-active substances which may be present are anionic, nonionic, cationic and/or amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants. In surfactant-containing cosmetic preparations, such as, for example, shower gels, foam baths, shampoos etc., and in some embodiments, at least one anionic surfactant is present.

Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, mixed ethers and mixed formals, optionally partially oxidized alk(en)yl oligoglycosides and glucuronic acid derivatives, fatty acid N-alkylglucamides, protein hydrolyzates (in particular wheat-based plant products), polyol fatty acid esters, sugar esters, sorbitan esters, polysorbates and amine oxides. If the nonionic surfactants comprise polyglycol ether chains, these can have a conventional homolog distribution, but, in some embodiments, have a narrowed homolog distribution.

Zwitterionic surfactants is the term used to refer to those surface-active compounds which carry at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one —COO⁽⁻⁾ or —SO₃ ⁽⁻⁾ group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylammonium glycinates, for example cocoalkyldimethylammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethylammonium glycinates, for example cocoacylaminopropyldimethylammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxylmethyl-3-hydroxyethyl-imidazoline having in each case 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group, and also cocoacylaminoethylhydroxyethyl carboxymethylglycinate. In one or more embodiments, the zwitterionic surfactant is the fatty acid amide derivative known under the INCI name Cocamidopropyl Betaine.

Likewise suitable, especially as co-surfactants, are ampholytic surfactants. Ampholytic surfactants are understood as meaning those surface-active compounds which, apart from a C₈-C₁₈-alkyl or acyl group in the molecule, comprise at least one free amino group and at least one —COOH or —SO₃H group and are capable of forming internal salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkylglycines, N-alkylpropionic acids, N-alkylaminobutyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids (commercially available for example under the trade name Dehyton® DC), N-hydroxyethyl N-alkylamidopropylglycines, N-alkyltaurines, N-alklylsarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoacetic acids having in each case about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. In some embodiments, the ampholytic surfactants comprise N-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacylaminoethylaminopropionate and C₁₂₋₁₈-acylsarcosine. Also suitable are derivatives of N-alkyliminodipropionic acids, such as, for example, N-lauryl-beta-iminopropionates, commercially available under the trade name Deriphat® 160 C. Also suitable are amphoacetates, such as e.g. cocoamphoacetates (e.g. Dehyton® MC) or cocoamphodiacetates (e.g. Dehyton® DC).

Anionic surfactants are characterized by a water-solubilizing, anionic group such as e.g. a carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, citrate or phosphate group and a lipophilic radical. Skin-compatible anionic surfactants are known in large numbers to the person skilled in the art from relevant handbooks and are commercially available. These are in particular alkylsulfates in the form of their alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium salts, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether carboxylates, acyl isethionates, acyl sarcosinates, acyltaurines with linear alkyl or acyl groups having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and sulfosuccinates and acylglutamates in the form of their alkali metal or ammonium salts. Particularly suitable anionic surfactants are glyceryl stearate Citrate (such as e.g. commercially available under the trade names Imwitor® 370, Imwitor® 372P, Axol® C., 62 or Dracorin® CE 614035) or glycerol stearate lactate compounds. An example of a suitable alkylsulfate is sodium cetearyl sulfate (trade name Lanette® E), an example of a suitable phosphate is potassium cetyl phosphate (trade name Amphisol® K). An example of a suitable acylglutamate is sodium stearoyl glutamate (trade name e.g. Eumulgin® SG). A further example of a suitable anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate (trade name Plantapon® LGC).

Cationic surfactants which can be used are in particular quaternary ammonium compounds. In one or more embodiments, the surfactant comprises ammonium halides, in particular chlorides and bromides, such as alkyltrimethylammonium chlorides, dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides and trialkylmethylammonium chlorides, e.g. cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, stearyltrimethylammonium chloride, distearyldimethylammonium chloride, lauryldimethylammonium chloride, lauryldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and tricetylmethylammonium chloride. Suitable pseudo cationic surfactants are, for example, stearylaminopropyldimethylamine (commercially available under the trade name Dehyquart® S18 or Incromine® SB or TegoAmide® S 18). Furthermore, the very readily biodegradable quaternary ester compounds, such as, for example, the dialkylammonium methosulfates and methylhydroxyalkyldialkoyloxyalkylammonium methosulfates sold under the trade name Stepantex® and the corresponding products of the Dehyquart® series, can be used as cationic surfactants. The term “esterquats” is generally understood as meaning quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts. They can impart a particular soft feel to the preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention. These are known substances which are prepared by the relevant methods of organic chemistry. Further cationic surfactants which can be used according to one or more embodiments of the invention are the quaternized protein hydrolysates. Suitable cationic surfactants are, for example, Dipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate (trade name Dehyquart® C4046), Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate (trade name Dehyquart® F75), Dicocoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate (trade name Dehyquart® L80), Behentrimonium Chloride (trade name Varisoft® BT), Distearyldimonium Chloride (trade name Varisoft® TA 100), Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride (trade name Varisoft® PATC).

Wax Component b-2)

In one embodiment of the invention, the preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprise at least one wax component. The preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprise the wax component(s) in an amount of from 0 to 40% by weight, in particular from 0 to 20% by weight, or more specifically 0.1 to 15% by weight and in particular 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the preparation.

The term wax is usually understood as meaning all natural or synthetically obtained substances and substance mixtures having the following properties: they are of solid to brittly hard consistency, coarse to finely crystalline, transparent to cloudy and melt above 30° C. without decomposition. They are already of low viscosity a little above the melting point and are not thread-drawing and exhibit a highly temperature-dependent consistency and solubility. According to various embodiments of the invention, it is possible to use one wax component or a mixture of wax components which melt at 30° C. or above.

According to various embodiments of the invention, fats and fat-like substances with a wax-like consistency can also be used as waxes provided they have the required melting point. These include inter alia fats (triglycerides), mono- and diglycerides, natural and synthetic waxes, fatty and wax alcohols, fatty acids, esters of fatty alcohols and fatty acids, and fatty acid amides or any desired mixtures of these substances.

Fats are understood as meaning triacylglycerols, i.e. the triple esters of fatty acids with glycerol. In some embodiments, they comprise saturated, unsaturated and unsubstituted fatty acid radicals. These may also be mixed esters, i.e. triple esters of glycerol with various fatty acids. So-called hydrogenated fats and oils which are obtained by partial hydrogenation can be used according to embodiments of the invention and are particularly well suited as consistency regulators. Plant hydrogenated fats and oils may be used, e.g. hydrogenated castor oil, peanut oil, soya oil, rapeseed oil, colza seed oil, cotton seed oil, soya oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, linseed oil, almond oil, corn oil, olive oil, sesame oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut fat.

The triple esters of glycerol with C12-C60-fatty acids and in particular C12-C36-fatty acids are inter alia suitable. These include hydrogenated castor oil, a triple ester of glycerol and a hydroxystearic acid, which is commercially available for example under the name Cutina HR. Likewise suitable are glycerol tristearate, glycerol tribehenate (e.g. Syncrowax HRC), glycerol tripalmitate or the triglyceride mixtures known under the name Syncrowax HGLC, with the proviso that the melting point of the wax component or of the mixture is 30° C. or above.

According to embodiments of the invention, in particular mono- and diglycerides or mixtures of these partial glycerides can be used as wax components. The glyceride mixtures which can be used according to one or more embodiments of the invention include the products Novata AB and Novata B (mixture of C12-C18-mono-, di- and triglycerides) and also Cutina® HVG (Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides) or Cutina® GMS (glyceryl stearate) marketed by Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG.

The fatty alcohols which can be used according to one or more embodiments of the invention as wax component include the C12-C50-fatty alcohols. The fatty alcohols can be obtained from natural fats, oils and waxes, such as, for example, myristyl alcohol, 1-pentadecanol, cetyl alcohol, 1-heptadecanol, stearyl alcohol, 1-nonadecanol, arachidyl alcohol, 1-heneicosanol, behenyl alcohol, brassidyl alcohol, lignoceryl alcohol, ceryl alcohol or myricyl alcohol. According to embodiments of the invention, saturated unbranched fatty alcohols are used. However, unsaturated, branched or unbranched fatty alcohols can also be used according to one or more embodiments of the invention as wax component provided they have the required melting point. According to various embodiments of the invention, it is also possible to use fatty alcohol segments, as are produced during the reduction of naturally occurring fats and oils such as e.g. beef tallow, peanut oil, coltsa oil, cotton oil, soya oil, sunflower oil, palm kernel oil, linseed oil, castor oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, sesame oil, cocoa butter and cocoa fat. However, it is also possible to use synthetic alcohols, e.g. the linear, even-numbered fatty alcohols of the Ziegler synthesis (alfols) or the sometimes branched alcohols from the oxo synthesis (dobanols). According to embodiments of the invention, C14-C22-fatty alcohols are suitable, which are marketed for example by Cognis Deutschland GmbH under the name Lanette 16 (C16-alcohol), Lanette 14 (C14-alcohol), Lanette O (C16/C18-alcohol) and Lanette 22 (C18/C22-alcohol). In some embodiments, fatty alcohols give the preparations a drier skin feel than triglycerides and are therefore used over the latter.

Wax components which can be used are also C14-C40-fatty acids or mixtures thereof. These include, for example, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, nonadecanoic acid, arachic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, cerotic acid, melissic acid, erucic acid and elaeostearic acid, and also substituted fatty acids, such as e.g. 12-hydroxystearic acid, and the amides or monoethanolamides of the fatty acids, this list being exemplary and non-limiting in character.

According to embodiments of the invention, it is possible to use for example natural plant waxes, such as candelilla wax, carnauba wax, japan wax, esparto grass wax, cork wax, guaruma wax, ricegerm oil wax, sugarcane wax, ouricury wax, montan wax, sunflower wax, fruit waxes such as orange waxes, lemon waxes, grapefruit wax, bayberry wax and animal waxes, such as e.g. beeswax, schellack wax, spermaceti, wool wax and uropygial grease. Within the context of the invention, it may be advantageous to use hydrogenated waxes. The natural waxes which can be used according to one or more embodiments of the invention also include the mineral waxes, such as e.g. ceresin and ozokerite or the petrochemical waxes, such as e.g. petrolatum, paraffin waxes and microwaxes. Wax components which can be used are also chemically modified waxes, in particular the hard waxes, such as e.g. montan ester waxes, sasol waxes and hydrogenated jojoba waxes. The synthetic waxes which can be used according to one or more embodiments of the invention include, for example, wax-like polyalkylene waxes and polyethylene glycol waxes. In some embodiments, plant waxes are utilizd according to one or more embodiments of the invention.

The wax component can likewise be selected from the group of wax esters of saturated and/or unsaturated, branched and/or unbranched alkanecarboxylic acids and saturated and/or unsaturated, branched and/or unbranched alcohols, from the group of esters of aromatic carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, tricarboxylic acids and hydroxycarboxylic acids (e.g. 12-hydroxystearic acid) and saturated and/or unsaturated, branched and/or unbranched alcohols, and also from the group of the lactides of long-chain hydroxycarboxylic acids. Examples of such esters are the C16-C40-alkyl stearates, C20-C40-alkyl stearates (e.g. Kesterwachs K82H), C20-C40-dialkyl esters of dimer acids, C18-C38-alkyl hydroxystearoylstearates or C20-C40-alkyl erucates. It is also possible to use C30-C50-alkyl beeswax, tristearyl citrate, triisostearyl citrate, stearyl heptanoate, stearyl octanoate, trilauryl citrate, ethylene glycol dipalmitate, ethylene glycol distearate, ethylene glycol di(12-hydroxystearate), stearyl stearate, palmityl stearate, stearyl behenate, cetyl ester, cetearyl behenate and behenyl behenate.

Polymers b-3)

In one embodiment of the invention, the preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprise at least one polymer. The preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprise the polymer(s) in an amount of from 0 to 20% by weight, or 0.05 to 18% by weight, or 0.05 to 15% by weight, particularly or 0.05 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the preparations. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprise the polymer/polymers in an amount of from 0.1 to 5% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 3% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the preparation.

Suitable cationic polymers are, for example, cationic cellulose derivatives, such as e.g. a quaternized hydroxyethylcellulose, which is available under the name Polymer JR 400® from Amerchol, cationic starch, copolymers of diallylammonium salts and acrylamides, quaternized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole polymers, such as e.g. Luviquat® (BASF), condensation products of polyglycols and amines, quaternized collagen polypeptides, such as, for example, lauryldimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed collagen (Lamequat® L/Grünau), quaternized wheat polypeptides, polyethyleneimine, cationic silicone polymers, such as e.g. amidomethicones, copolymers of adipic acid and dimethylaminohydroxypropyldiethylene-triamine (Cartaretine®/Sandoz), copolymers of acrylic acid with dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (Merquat® 550/Chemviron), polyaminopolyamides, cationic chitin derivatives such as, for example, quaternized chitosan, optionally in microcrystalline distribution, condensation products of dihaloalkylene, such as e.g. dibromobutane with bisdialkylamines, such as e.g. bis-dimethylamino-1,3-propane, cationic guar gum, such as e.g. Jaguar® CBS, Jaguar® C-17, Jaguar® C-16 from Celanese, quaternized ammonium salt polymers, such as e.g. Mirapol® A-15, Mirapol® AD-1, Mirapol® AZ-1 from Miranol.

Suitable anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and nonionic polymers are, for example, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers, vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acrylate copolymers, vinyl acetate/butyl maleate/isobornyl acrylate copolymers, methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers and esters thereof, uncrosslinked and polyol-crosslinked polyacrylic acids, acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride/acrylate copolymers, octylacrylamide/methyl methacrylate/tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylate/2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, vinylpyrrolidone/dimethyl-aminoethyl methacrylate/vinylcaprolactam terpolymers, and optionally derivatized cellulose ethers and silicones.

Particularly suitable anionic polymers are those with the INCI name Carbomer, such as e.g. the Carbopol grades 980, 980, 981, 1382, 2984, 5984, and the products available under the trade names Rheocare® C plus and Rheocare® 400. Furthermore suitable anionic polymers are those with the INCI name Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (trade name e.g. Pemulen® TR, Pemulen® TR 2, CarboporUltrez), Acrylates Copolymer (trade name e.g. Rheocare TTA, TTN, TTN-2), Acrylamide/Sodium Acrylate Copolymer (trade name e.g. Cosmedia® ATC), Sodium Polyacrylate (trade name e.g. Cosmedia® ATH, CosmediaPSP), Polyacrylamides (trade name e.g. Sepigel® 305 or Sepigel® 501). In one or more embodiments, the anionic polymers are polyacrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers.

Furthermore suitable polymers are silicone elastomer gums, such as e.g. silicone elastomer mixtures, such as e.g. mixtures with the INCI names Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethiconol (and) Dimethicone Crosspolymer (trade name Dow Corning° DC 9027), mixtures with the INCI name Isodecyl Neopentanoate (and) Dimethicone/bis-isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer (trade name Dow Corning° DC EL 8051 IN), mixtures with the INCI name Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (and) C12-14 Pareth-12) (trade name Dow Cornin® DC 9509), and mixtures with the INCI name Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (and) Silica (trade name Dow Corning® DC 9701 Cosmetic Powder).

Suitable polymers are likewise polysaccharides, in particular xanthan gum, guar gum, agar agar, alginates and tyloses, and also tara gum, carrageenan, sclerotium gum and natural cellulose.

Further Oil Bodies b-4)

Bodycare compositions, such as creams, body oils, lotions and milks, usually comprise a series of further oil bodies and emollients which contribute to further optimizing the sensory properties. The oil bodies (compounds according to one or more embodiments of the invention plus further oil bodies) are usually present in a total amount of 0.1-80, in particular 0.5 to 70, or 1 to 60, or 1 to 50% by weight, or 1 to 40% by weight, or 5-25% by weight and in further embodiments, 5-15% by weight. The other oil bodies are usually present in an amount of from 0.1 to 40% by weight.

Suitable further oil bodies are, for example, Guerbet alcohols based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, and in further embodiments 8 to 10, carbon atoms, and also esters such as myristyl myristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate, myristyl isostearate, myristyl oleate, myristyl behenate, myristyl erucate, cetyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, cetyl isostearate, cetyl oleate, cetyl behenate, cetyl erucate, stearyl myristate, stearyl palmitate, stearyl stearate, stearyl isostearate, stearyl oleate, stearyl behenate, stearyl erucate, isostearyl myristate, isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl stearate, isostearyl isostearate, isostearyl oleate, isostearyl behenate, isostearyl oleate, oleyl myristate, oleyl palmitate, oleyl stearate, oleyl isostearate, oleyl oleate, oleyl behenate, oleyl erucate, behenyl myristate, behenyl palmitate, behenyl stearate, behenyl isostearate, behenyl oleate, behenyl behenate, behenyl erucate, erucyl myristate, erucyl palmitate, erucyl stearate, erucyl isostearate, erucyl oleate, erucyl behenate and erucyl erucate. Also suitable are esters of C₁₈-C₃₈-alkylhydroxycarboxylic acids with linear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols, in particular dioctyl malate, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (such as e.g. propylene glycol, dimerdiol or trimertriol), triglycerides based on C₆-C₁₀-fatty acids, liquid mono-/di-/triglyceride mixtures based on C₆-C₁₈-fatty acids, esters of C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular benzoic acid, esters of C₂-C₁₂-dicarboxylic acids with polyols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, plant oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohol carbonates, such as e.g. Dicaprylyl Carbonate (Cetiol® CC), Guerbet carbonates based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, or 8 to 10 carbon atoms, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C₆-C₂₂-alcohols (e.g. Finsolv® TN), linear or branched, symmetrical or asymmetrical dialkyl ethers having 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group, such as e.g. dicaprylyl ether (Cetiol® OE), ring-opening products of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols and hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof. Also suitable are esters of 2-propylheptanol with n-octanoic acid, such as e.g. commercially available under the trade name Cetiol® SenSoft (Cognis GmbH). Also suitable are hydrocarbons, such as for example undecane and tridecane. Also suitable are alkanes, such as e.g. the mixtures with the INCI name Coconut/Palm/Palm Kernel Oil Alkanes (trade name Vegelight 1214 from Biosynthesis).

Surprisingly, it has been found that the compounds according to one or more embodiments of the invention are suitable in particular for solubilizing oil-soluble crystalline UV photoprotective filters.

One subject matter of the invention relates to preparations comprising at least one compound according to claim 1 and at least one UV photoprotective filter, and in further embodiments, an oil-soluble UV photoprotective filter.

According to embodiments of the invention, suitable UV photoprotective filters are organic substances (photoprotective filters) that are liquid or crystalline at room temperature and which are able to absorb ultraviolet radiation and release the absorbed energy again in the form of longer-wave radiation, e.g. heat. UV filters can be oil-soluble or water-soluble. Typical oil-soluble UV-B filters or broad spectrum UV A/B filters to be mentioned are e.g.:

-   -   3-benzylidenecamphor or 3-benzylidenenorcamphor (Mexoryl SDS 20)         and derivatives thereof, e.g. 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)camphor, as         described in EP 0693471 B1     -   3-(4′-trimethylammonium)benzylidenebornan-2-one methylsulfate         (Mexoryl SO)     -   3,3′-(1,4-phenylenedimethine)bis(7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-methanesulfonic         acid) and salts (Mexoryl SX)     -   3-(4′-sulfo)benzylidenebornan-2-one and salts (Mexoryl SL)     -   polymer of N-{(2 and         4)-[2-oxoborn-3-ylidene)methyl}benzyl]acrylamide (Mexoryl SW)     -   2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-(2-methyl-3-(1,3,3,3-tetramethyl-1-(trimethylsilyloxy)disiloxanyl)propyl)phenol         (Mexoryl SL)     -   4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, specifically 2-ethylhexyl         4-(dimethylamino)benzoate, 2-octyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate and         amyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate;     -   esters of cinnamic acid, specifically 2-ethylhexyl         4-methoxycinnamate, propyl 4-methoxycinnamate, isoamyl         4-methoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-phenylcinnamate         (octocrylene);     -   esters of salicylic acid, specifically 2-ethylhexyl salicylate,         4-isopropylbenzyl salicylate, homomethyl salicylate;     -   derivatives of benzophenone, specifically         2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone,         2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4′-methylbenzophenone,         2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone;     -   esters of benzalmalonic acid, specifically di-2-ethylhexyl         4-methoxybenzmalonate;     -   triazine derivatives, such as e.g.         2,4,6-trianilino(p-carbo-2′-ethyl-1′-hexyloxy)-1,3,5-triazine         and         2,4,6-tris[p-(2-ethylhexyloxycarbonyl)anilino]-1,3,5-triazine         (Uvinul T 150) as described in EP 0818450 A1 or         bis(2-ethylhexyl)         4,4′-[(6-[4-((1,1-dimethylethyl)aminocarbonyl)phenylamino]-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl)diimino]bisbenzoate         (Uvasorb® HEB);     -   2,2-(methylenebis(6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol)         (Tinosorb M);     -   2,4-bis[4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine         (Tinosorb S);     -   propane-1,3-diones, such as e.g.         1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4′-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione;     -   ketotricyclo(5.2.1.0)decane derivatives, as described in EP         0694521 B1;     -   dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonates (Parsol SLX).

Suitable water-soluble UV filters are:

-   -   2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and the alkali metal,         alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanol ammonium         and glucammonium salts thereof;     -   2,2-((1,4-phenylene)bis(1H-benzimidazole-4,6-disulfonic acid,         monosodium salt) (Neo Heliopan AP)     -   sulfonic acid derivatives of benzophenones, specifically         2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid and its salts;     -   sulfonic acid derivatives of 3-benzylidenecamphor, such as e.g.         4-(2-oxo-3-bornylidenemethyl)benzenesulfonic acid and         2-methyl-5-(2-oxo-3-bornylidene)sulfonic acid and salts thereof.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the preparations comprise at least one oil-soluble UV photoprotective filter and at least one water-soluble UV photoprotective filter.

Suitable typical UV-A filters are in particular derivatives of benzoylmethane, such as, for example, 1-(4′-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4′-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione, 4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol® 1789), 1-phenyl-3-(4′-isopropylphenyl)propane-1,3-dione, and also enamine compounds, as described in DE 19712033 A1 (BASF), and also benzoic acid, 2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]-, Hexyl Ester (Uvinul® A plus).

The UV-A and UV-B filters can of course also be used in mixtures. Particularly favorable combinations consist of the derivatives of benzoylmethane, e.g. 4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol® 1789) and 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-phenylcinnamate (octocrylene) in combination with esters of cinnamic acid, specifically 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate and/or propyl 4-methoxycinnamate and/or isoamyl 4-methoxycinnamate. Combinations of this type are advantageously combined with water-soluble filters such as e.g. 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanol ammonium and glucammonium salts thereof.

The preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention can also comprise insoluble photoprotective pigments, namely finely disperse metal oxides and/or salts. Examples of suitable metal oxides are in particular zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and also oxides of iron, zirconium, silicon, manganese, aluminum and cerium, and mixtures thereof. Salts which can be used are silicates (talc), barium sulfate or zinc stearate. The oxides and salts are used in the form of the pigments for skincare and skin-protecting emulsions and also for decorative cosmetics. The particles should have an average diameter of less than 100 nm, specifically between 5 and 50 nm and in particular between 15 and 30 nm. They can have a spherical form, although it is also possible to use particles which have an ellipsoidal form or a form which deviates in some other way from the spherical shape. The pigments can also be present in surface-treated form, i.e. hydrophilicized or hydrophobicized. Typical examples thereof are coated titanium dioxides, such as e.g. titanium dioxide T 805 (Degussa) or Eusolex® T, Eusolex® T-2000, Eusolex® T-Aqua, Eusolex® AVO, Eusolex® T-ECO, Eusolex® T-OLEO and Eusolex® T-S (Merck). Typical examples thereof are zinc oxides, such as e.g. zinc oxide neutral, zinc oxide NDM (Symrise) or Z-Cote® (BASF) or SUNZnO-AS and SUNZnO-NAS (Sunjun Chemical Co. Ltd.). Suitable hydrophobic coatings here are primarily silicones and specifically trialkoxyoctylsilanes or simethicones. In embodiments related to sunscreen compositions, so-called micropigments or nanopigments may be used. In further embodiments, micronized zinc oxide is used.

As well as the two aforementioned groups of primary photoprotective substances, it is also possible to use secondary photoprotective agents of the antioxidant type, which interrupt the photochemical reaction chain which is triggered when UV radiation penetrates into the skin. Typical examples thereof are amino acids (e.g. glycine, histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan) and derivatives thereof, imidazoles (e.g. urocanic acid) and derivatives thereof, peptides such as D,L-carnosine, D-carnosine, L-carnosine and derivatives thereof (e.g. anserine), carotenoids, carotenes (e.g. -carotene, -carotene, lycopene) and derivatives thereof, chlorogenic acid and derivatives thereof, lipoic acid and derivatives thereof (e.g. dihydrolipoic acid), aurothioglucose, propylthiouracil and other thiols (e.g. thioredoxin, glutathione, cysteine, cystine, cystamine and the glycosyl, N-acetyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, amyl, butyl and lauryl, palmitoyl, oleyl, linoleyl, cholesteryl and glyceryl esters thereof), and salts thereof, dilauryl thiodipropionate, distearyl thiodipropionate, thiodipropionic acid and derivatives thereof (esters, ethers, peptides, lipids, nucleotides, nucleosides and salts), and also sulfoximine compounds (e.g. buthionine sulfoximines, homocysteine sulfoximine, buthionine sulfones, penta-, hexa-, heptathionine sulfoximine) in very low tolerated doses (e.g. pmol to mol/kg), also (metal) chelating agents (e.g. α-hydroxy fatty acids, palmitic acid, phytic acid, lactoferrin), α-hydroxy acids (e.g. citric acid, lactic acid, maleic acid), humic acid, bile acid, bile extracts, bilirubin, biliverdin, EDTA, EGTA and derivatives thereof, unsaturated fatty acids and derivatives thereof (e.g. gamma-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid), folic acid and derivatives thereof, ubiquinone and ubiquinol and derivatives thereof, vitamin C and derivatives (e.g. ascorbyl palmitate, Mg ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl acetate), tocopherols and derivatives (e.g. vitamin E acetate), vitamin A and derivatives (vitamin A palmitate), and coniferyl benzoate of benzoin resin, rutinic acid and derivatives thereof, α-glycosylrutin, ferulic acid, furfurylideneglucitol, carnosine, butylhydroxytoluene, butylhydroxyanisole, nordihydroguaiacic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, trihydroxybutyrophenone, uric acid and derivatives thereof, mannose and derivatives thereof, superoxide dismutase, zinc and derivatives thereof (e.g. ZnO, ZnSO4), selenium and derivatives thereof (e.g. selenomethionine), stilbenes and derivatives thereof (e.g. stilbene oxide, trans-stilbene oxide) and the derivatives (salts, esters, ethers, sugars, nucleotides, nucleosides, peptides and lipids) suitable according to one or more embodiments of the invention of these specified active ingredients.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the preparations comprise at least one UV photoprotective filter selected from the group consisting of 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor, benzophenone-3, butylmethoxydibenzoyl methane, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, diethylhexyl butamidotriazone, ethylhexyl triazone and diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, 3-(4′-trimethylammonium)benzylidenebornan-2-one methylsulfate, 3,3′-(1,4-phenylene-dimethine)bis(7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-methanesulfonic acid) and its salts, 3-(4′sulfo)benzylidenebornan-2-one and its salts, polymer of N-{(2 and 4)-[2-oxoborn-3-ylidene)methyl}benzyl]acrylamide, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-(2-methyl-3-(1,3,3,3-tetramethyl-1-(trimethylsilyloxy)disiloxanyl)propyl)phenol, dimethicodiethyl benzalmalonate and their mixtures.

These UV photoprotective filters are commercially available, for example, under the following trade names:

NeoHeliopan® MB C (INCI: 4-methylbenzylidene camphor; manufacturer: Symrise); NeoHeliopan® BB (INCI: benzophenone-3, manufacturer: Symrise); Parsol® 1789 (INCI: butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, manufacturer: Hoffmann La Roche (Givaudan); Tinosorb® S (INCI: bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine); Tinosorb® M (INCI: methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol): manufacturer: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation; Uvasorb® HEB (INCI: diethylhexyl butamidotriazone, manufacturer: 3V Inc.), Unvinul® T 150 (INCI: ethylhexyl triazone, manufacturer: BASF AG); Uvinul® A plus (INCI: diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate: manufacturer: BASF AG; Mexoryl® SO: 3-(4′-trimethylammonium)benzylidenebornan-2-one methylsulfate, INCI: camphor benzalkonium methosulfate; Mexoryl® SX: 3,3′-(1,4-phenylenedimethine)bis(7,7-dimethyl-2-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-methanesulfonic acid), CTFA: INCI terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid; Mexory® SL: 3-(4′-sulfo)benzylidenebornan-2-one, INCI benzylidene camphor sulfonic acid; Mexoryl® SW: polymer of N-{(2 and 4)-[2-oxoborn-3-ylidene)methyl}benzyl]acrylamide, INCI polyacrylamidomethyl benzylidene camphor; Mexoryl® SL: 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-(2-methyl-3-(1,3,3,3-tetramethyl-1-(trimethylsilyloxy)disiloxanyl)propyl)phenol; INCI: DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE; Parsol® SLX: dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonate, INCI polysilicone-15.

The preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention can comprise the UV photoprotective filters in amounts of from 0.5 to 30% by weight, specifically 2.5 to 20% by weight, or more specifically 5-15% by weight—based on the preparation.

Further Ingredients

Suitable thickeners are, for example, Aerosil grades (hydrophilic silicas), carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and bentonite such as e.g. Bentone® Gel VS-5PC (Rheox). A suitable thickener is for example the product with the INCI name Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Stearalkonium Hectorite and Propylene Carbonate available under the trade names Cosmedia® Gel CC. Biogenic active ingredients are to be understood as meaning, for example, tocopherol, tocopherol acetate, tocopherol palmitate, ascorbic acid, (deoxy)ribonucleic acid and a fragmentation product thereof, β-glucans, retinol, bisabolol, allantoin, phytantriol, panthenol, AHA acids, amino acids, ceramides, pseudoceramides, essential oils, plant extracts, such as e.g. prune extract, bambara nut extract and vitamin complexes. Deodorizing active ingredients/antiperspirants counteract, mask or eliminate body odors. Body odors are formed as a result of the action of skin bacteria on apocrine perspiration, during which unpleasant smelling degradation products are formed. Accordingly, antimicrobial agents, enzyme inhibitors, odor absorbers or odor maskers, inter alia, are suitable as deodorizing active ingredients. Suitable insect repellents are, for example, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, 1,2-pentanediol or ethyl 3-(N-n-butyl-N-acetylamino)propionate), which is sold under the name Insect Repellent® 3535 by Merck KGaA, and also butylacetylaminopropionate. A suitable self-tanning agent is dihydroxyacetone or erythrulose. Suitable tyrosine inhibitors, which prevent the formation of melanin and are used in depigmentation compositions, are, for example, arbutin, ferulic acid, kojic acid, cumaric acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Suitable preservatives are, for example, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde solutions, parabens, pentanediol, chlorphenesin, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerols or sorbic acid, and also the silver complexes known under the name Surfacine® and the other substance classes listed in annex 6, part A and B of the Cosmetics Ordinance. Perfume oils which may be mentioned are mixtures of natural and synthetic fragrances. Natural fragrances are extracts from flowers, stems and leaves, fruits, fruit peels, roots, woods, herbs and grasses, needles and branches, resins and balsams. Also suitable are animal raw materials, such as, for example, civet and castoreum, and also synthetic fragrance compounds of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon types. Suitable pearlescent waxes or pearlescent compounds, particularly for use in surface-active formulations, are, for example: alkylene glycol esters, specifically ethylene glycol distearate; fatty acid alkanolamides, specifically coconut fatty acid diethanolamide; partial glycerides, specifically stearic acid monoglyceride; esters of polybasic, optionally hydroxy-substituted carboxylic acids with fatty alcohols having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, specifically long-chain esters of tartaric acid; fatty substances, such as, for example, fatty alcohols, fatty ketones, fatty aldehydes, fatty ethers and fatty carbonates, which have in total at least 24 carbon atoms, specifically laurone and distearyl ether; stearyl citrate, cyclodextrin, fatty acids such as stearic acid, hydroxystearic acid or behenic acid, ring-opening products of olefin epoxides having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with fatty alcohols having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and/or polyols having 2 to 15 carbon atoms and 2 to 10 hydroxyl groups, and mixtures thereof. Superfatting agents which can be used are substances such as, for example, lanolin and lecithin, and also polyethoxylated or acylated lanolin and lecithin derivatives, polyol fatty acid esters, monoglycerides and fatty acid alkanolamides, the latter simultaneously serving as foam stabilizers. A suitable superfatting agent is, for example, the mixture of cocoglucosides and glyceryl oleate (commercially available as Lamesoft® PO65 from Cognis GmbH).

Suitable fillers are substances which, for example, improve the sensory or cosmetic properties of a preparation and which, for example, produce or boost a velvety or silky feel (so-called skin sensory modifier). Suitable fillers are starch and starch derivatives (such as e.g. tapioca starch, aluminum starch octenyl succinate, sodium octenyl succinate, distarch phosphate), pigments which do not serve primarily as UV filters or dyes (such as e.g. boron nitride) and/or Aerosil® (CAS No. 7631-86-9), and/or talc, and also for example polymethyl methacrylate (e.g. Cosmedia® PMMA V8/V12), silica (e.g. Cosmedia® SILC), stearalkonium hectorite (as present in the commercially available product Cosmedia® Gel CC), and also HDI/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer (as present in the commercially available product Cosmedia® CUSHION).

Stabilizers which can be used are metal salts of fatty acids, such as e.g. magnesium, aluminum and/or zinc stearate or ricinoleate. To improve the flow behavior, also hydrotropes, such as, for example, ethanol isopropyl alcohol, or polyols, can be used. Polyols which are suitable here have specifically 2 to 15 carbon atoms and at least two hydroxyl groups. The polyols can also contain further functional groups, in particular amino groups, and/or be modified with nitrogen.

The preparations according to one or more embodiments of the invention, and also the compounds described herein are suitable in particular in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations for the wetting or impregnation or coating of utility wipes and hygiene wipes which are used for cleaning the body and/or for bodycare.

Utility wipes and hygiene wipes which may be mentioned by way of example are: tissues, papers, wipes, nonwoven products, sponges, puffs, plasters and bandages which are used in the field of hygiene and care. These may be wet wipes for baby hygiene and babycare, cleansing wipes, face cleansing wipes, skincare wipes, care wipes with active ingredients to combat skin aging, wipes with sunscreen formulations and insect repellents, and also wipes for decorative cosmetics or for after-sun treatment, toilet wet wipes, antiperspirant wipes, diapers, pocket tissues, wet wipes, hygiene products, and self-tanning wipes.

EXAMPLES (1) Preparation Examples Synthesis of the Mixed Ethers in the Laboratory

The syntheses below were carried out with the following specifications/commercial products:

Lorol®—“Lorol technical-grade”, C12-18 fatty alcohol with the following chain distribution:

C12 48-58% C14 18-24% C16  8-12% C18 11-15%

Lorol C8: 1-Octanol, at least 95% C8 fatty alcohol

Lorol C10: 1-Decanol, at least 94% C10 fatty alcohol

Behenyl alcohol (Stenol® 1822) n-docosanol with at least 42% C22 fatty alcohol.

Isostearyl alcohol (Prisorine® 3515)

Apparatus Used:

1 L 4-necked stirred apparatus, N2 introduction, water separator

A) Mixed Ether—C12-C18-Fatty Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: A (75/25) I 225.0 g  Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) II 75.0 g  Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema (isostearyl alcohol, C18-OH) III 0.6 g CF3SO3H (50% strength) = 2 mmol (0.1% AS based on I and II) IV 1.5 g H3PO2 (50% strength) = 11.4 mmol V 2.0 g NaOH (50% strength) = 25 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-IV were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred at 220° C. for 1.5 hours. The resulting reaction product was then neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (V) at 80° C. In order to remove the resulting olefin and the unreacted fatty alcohol, the reaction mixture was distilled in a distillation apparatus to a bottom temperature of 200° C./<0.1 mbar.

For the purposes of purification and removal of the catalyst salts, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (6.0 g; filtration aid) and filtered with suction while hot through a glass suction filter.

B) Mixed Ether—C12-C18-Fatty Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: B (90/10) I 450.0 g  Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) II 50.0 g Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema (isostearyl alcohol, C18-OH) III  0.5 g CF3SO3H (50% strength) = 1.7 mmol IV  2.5 g H3PO2 (50% strength) = 18.9 mmol V 3.17 g NaOH (50% strength) = 39.6 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-IV were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred for 4 hours at 220° C. The resulting reaction product was neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (V) at 50° C. and the mixture was distilled to a bottom temperature of 200° C./<0.1 mbar.

For the purposes of purification, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (10.0 g) and filtered with suction while warm through a glass suction filter.

C) Mixed Ether—C12-C18 Fatty Alcohol/Behenyl Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: C (33.3/33.3/33.3) I 160.0 g Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) II 160.0 g Stenol ® 1822 SR (behenyl alcohol) III 160.0 g Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema (isostearyl alcohol, C18-OH) IV  0.48 g CF₃SO₃H (50% strength) = 1.6 mmol V  2.4 g H₃PO₂ (50% strength) = 21.2 mmol VI  3.04 g NaOH (50% strength) = 38 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-V were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred for 4 hours at 220° C. The resulting reaction product was neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (VI) at 80° C. and the mixture was distilled to a bottom temperature of 200° C./<0.1 mbar.

For the purposes of purification, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (9.6 g) and filtered with suction while warm through a glass suction filter.

D) Mixed Ether—C12-C18 Fatty Alcohol/Behenyl Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: D (25/25/50) I 125.0 g Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) II 125.0 g Stenol ® 1822 SR (behenyl alcohol) III 250.0 g Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema (isostearyl alcohol, C18-OH) IV  0.50 g CF₃SO₃H (50% strength) = 1.7 mmol (0.05% based on I, II and III) V  2.5 g H₃PO₂ (50% strength) = 18.9 mmol VI  3.16 g NaOH (50% strength) = 39.5 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-V were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred for 4 hours at 220° C. The resulting reaction product was neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (VI) at 80° C. and the mixture was distilled to a bottom temperature of 200° C./<0.1 mbar.

20.1 g were distilled off and 461.0 g of intermediate were obtained.

For the purposes of purification, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (10.0 g) and filtered with suction while hot through a glass suction filter.

Analysis of the reaction product revealed a purity content of ca. 96% GC (CT-CP).

E) Mixed Ether—C12-C18-Fatty Alcohol/Behenyl Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: E (50/16.7/33.3) I 225.0 g  Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) II 75.0 g Stenol ® 1822 SR (behenyl alcohol) III 150.0 g  Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema (isostearyl alcohol, C18-OH) IV 0.45 g CF₃SO₃H (50% strength) = 1.5 mmol V 2.25 g H₃PO₂ (50% strength) = 17 mmol VI 2.85 g NaOH (50% strength) = 35.6 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-V were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred for 4 hours at 220° C. The resulting reaction product was neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (VI) at 80° C. and the mixture was distilled to a bottom temperature of 200° C./<0.1 mbar.

For the purposes of purification, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (9.0 g) and filtered with suction while hot through a glass suction filter.

F) Mixed Ether—C12-C18 Fatty Alcohol/Behenyl Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: F (70/5/25) I 280.0 g  Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) II 20.0 g Stenol ® 1822 SR (behenyl alcohol) III 100.0 g  Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema (isostearyl alcohol, C18-OH) IV  0.4 g CF₃SO₃H (50% strength) = 0.05 mmol V  2.0 g H₃PO₂ (50% strength) = 15.2 mmol VI 2.52 g NaOH (50% strength) = 31.6 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-V were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred for 4 hours at 220° C. The resulting reaction product was neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (VI) at 80° C. and the mixture was distilled to a bottom temperature of 200° C./<0.1 mbar.

For the purposes of purification, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (8.0 g) and filtered with suction while hot through a glass suction filter.

G) Mixed Ether—C12-C18, C8, C10-Fatty Alcohol/Behenyl Alcohol/Isostearyl Alcohol

Batch: G (25/25/25/12.5/12.5) I 50.0 g Lorol ® C8 (1-octanol) II 50.0 g Lorol ® C10 (1-decanol) III 100.0 g  Lorol ® tech-grade (C12-C18 fatty alcohols) IV 100.0 g  Stenol ® 1822 SR (behenyl alcohol) V 100.0 g  iso-C18-OH (Prisorine ® 3515; Unichema) isostearyl alcohol VI  0.4 g CF₃SO₃H (50% strength) = 1.3 mmol VII  2.0 g H₃PO₂ (50% strength) = 15.2 mmol VIII 2.52 g NaOH (50% strength) = 31.6 mmol Procedure:

The starting materials I-VIII were introduced, gassed with nitrogen and stirred for 4 hours at 220° C. The resulting reaction product was neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution (VIII) at 80° C. and the mixture was distilled to a bottom temperature of 150° C. and a vapor temperature of 94° C. (uniform amount of distillate formed)/<0.1 mbar. 11.8 g were distilled off and 365.5 g of intermediate were obtained.

For the purposes of purification, the intermediate was then stirred for 2 hours at 90° C. with 2% Tonsil Standard (8.0 g) and filtered with suction while hot through a glass suction filter.

Analysis of the reaction product revealed a purity content of ca. 96.5% GC (CT-CP).

(2) Formulation and Sensorics

The application properties of the mixed ethers were investigated in a cosmetic formulation with 1% of Cosmedia® SP (sodium polyacrylate), 10% of Cetiol® LC (cococaprylate/caprate) and 3% of glycerol. The use concentration of mixed ethers and/or petroleum jelly was 6% in each case.

TABLE 2.1 Formulation: F-V F-D F-G COSMEDIA ® SP 1.0 1.0 1.0 (sodium polyacrylate) CETIOL ® LC 10.0 10.0 10.0 (coc-caprylate/caprate) Petroleum jelly, white 6.0 — — (Sigma Aldrich) Mixed ether batch D — 6.0 — Mixed ether batch G 6.0 Glycerol 3.0 3.0 3.0 Water, demin. 79.9 79.9 79.9 Euxyl K 100 0.1 0.1 0.1 (preservative) pH 6.1 6.0 6.0 Viscosity 162500 137500 125000 (Brookfield, RVF, 23° C., Spindel TE, 4 rpm, with Helipath) mPa*s Sensorics Compared to Petroleum Jelly in a Cosmetic Formulation:

The sensorics of the formulation were evaluated by five test persons according to defined criteria. Petroleum jelly represents the standard in the comparison (+describes the judgment of one test person).

The sample with mixed ether according to batch D (formulation F-D) exhibits comparable sensory properties to the petroleum jelly formulation. In particular, compared to the standard, it absorbs significantly more rapidly into the skin and is perceived to be somewhat drier.

TABLE 2.2 Sensory test (n = 5) − Standard + Spreading (low) + +++ + Spreading (high) Absorption 1 min ++ +++ Absorption 1 min (slow) (rapid) Absorption 3 min + ++++ Absorption 3 min (slow) (rapid) Residues (many) +++ ++ Residues (few) Stickiness ++++ + Stickiness (considerable) (slight) Oiliness ++ ++ + Oiliness (considerable) (slight) Waxiness + ++ ++ Waxiness (considerable) (slight) Velvetiness +++++ Velvetiness (slight) (pronounced) Silkiness +++++ Silkiness (slight) (pronounced) Powder feel +++++ Powder feel (slight) (pronounced) Softness ++ ++ + Softness (slight) (pronounced) Smoothness ++ ++ + Smoothness (slight) (pronounced) Care feel ++ +++ Care feel (slight) (pronounced) Acceptance ++++ + Acceptance (slight) (high)

(3) Use in Surfactant Systems

The application properties of the mixed ethers were investigated in a surface-active formulation comprising 16.1% Texapon® N70 (sodium laureth sulfate 2EO), 11.1% Dehyton® PK45 (cocamidopropylbetaine), 2.15% Comperlan® CMEA (Cocamide MEA), 4% sunflower oil, 4% Edenor® C12 (lauric acid), 0.2% Dehyquart® GUAR N (guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride), 0.2% EDTA BD, 0.5% glycerol, 0.5% sodium benzoate and 1.2% citric acid. The use concentration of mixed ethers and/or petroleum jelly was 4% by weight in each case.

3.1 Formulation: test formulation for surfactant system T-V T-D T-G Comparison TEXAPON ® N70 16.1 16.1 16.1 DEHYTONL ® PK45 11.1 11.1 11.1 COMPERLAN ® CMEA 2.15 2.15 2.15 Sunflower oil 4.0 4.0 4.0 Edenor ® C 12 4.0 4.0 4.0 Petroleum jelly, white — — 4.0 (Sigma Aldrich) Mixed ether batch D 4.0 — — Mixed ether batch G 4.0 — — DEHYQUART ® GUAR N 0.2 0.2 0.2 EDTA BD 0.2 0.2 0.2 Glycerol 0.5 0.5 0.5 Sodium benzoate 0.5 0.5 0.5 Water, demin. 56.05 56.55 56.55 Citric acid (50%) 0.75 0.8 0.7 pH 4.9 4.9 4.9 Viscosity (Brookfield, RVF, 15200 15400 14400 23° C., Spindel 5, 10 rpm) mPa * s Foaming Properties

The foaming properties were determined in a Sita Rotorfoam measuring device in a 1% strength solution at 15° German hardness at 30° C. The initial foaming behavior of the two mixed ether formulations after 30 seconds is comparable to the formulation with petroleum jelly. In the further course the amount of foam in the mixed ether formulations increases slightly, whereas the amount of foam in the petroleum jelly formulation remains constant.

TABLE 3.2 Foaming properties Foam height in ml Time [s] T-V T-D T-G 30 126 134 144 60 134 180 163 90 139 210 181 120 150 249 197 150 154 259 207 180 156 286 219 210 149 301 229 240 150 314 229 270 150 335 236 300 126 346 238

(4) Occlusivity

The occlusivity of the mixed ethers was determined by determining the TEWL (transepidermal water loss).

The occlusive effect was determined via the reduction in the water permeability of the skin using an evaporimeter process. For this, the water vapor gradient was measured above the oil-treated or untreated skin of the forearm using two measuring probes in a climatically controlled environment, and the water permeability of the skin was ascertained from this.

petroleum jelly was used as a positive standard, and IPM was used as a negative standard. The samples are arranged below in terms of the occlusivity:

-   1. Petroleum jelly—pronounced to strongly occlusive -   2. Mixed ether batch D—moderately to strongly occlusive -   3. Mixed ether batch G—moderately to strongly occlusive -   4. IPM-CE92010016 pronounced to a little occlusive

Both investigated mixed ethers exhibit strongly occlusive properties and are therefore well suited as petroleum jelly substitute. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mixed ether obtainable by condensation reaction of: a) 25 to 90% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms; b) 5 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; c) 0 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10 carbon atoms, wherein the mixed ether has a melting range of between −25° C. and +70° C., as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and wherein the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C.
 2. The mixed ether of claim 1, obtainable by condensation reaction of: a) 25 to 70% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms; b) 5 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; c) 1 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10 carbon atoms, wherein the mixed ether has a melting range of between −25° C. and +70° C., as measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and wherein the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C.
 3. The mixed ether of claim 1, wherein the mixed ether has a melting range between −22° C. and +55° C., where the width of the melting range comprises at least 50 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C.
 4. The mixed ether of claim 1, wherein the component a) consists essentially of unbranched, saturated fatty alcohols having the following chain distribution: C12 from 48-58% by weight C14 from 18-24% by weight C16 from 8-12% by weight C18 from 11-15% by weight.
 5. The mixed ether of claim 1, wherein component c) comprises n-docosanol.
 6. The mixed ether of claim 1, wherein the condensation reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 200 to 250° C.
 7. The mixed ether of claim 1, wherein sulfonic acid and/or methanesulfonic acid, are used in the condensation reaction.
 8. A cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparation comprising the mixed ethers of claim
 1. 9. A mixed ether obtainable by condensation reaction of a) 25 to 50% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms; b) 25 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; and c) 15 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms, wherein the mixed ether has a melting range, measured by differential scanning calorimetry, between −25° C. and +70° C., where the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C.
 10. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein the ether is obtained by condensation reactin of: a) 25 to 50% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms; b) 25 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; c) 15 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and d) 10 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10 carbon atoms.
 11. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein the ether is obtained by condensation reactin of: a) 25 to 35% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 18 carbon atoms; b) 33 to 50% by weight of isostearyl alcohol; and c) 25 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms.
 12. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein the mixed ether has a melting range between −22° C. and +55° C., where the width of the melting range comprises at least 50 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C.
 13. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein the component a) consists of unbranched, saturated fatty alcohols having the following chain distribution: C12 from 48-58% by weight C14 from 18-24% by weight C16 from 8-12% by weight C18 from 11-15% by weight.
 14. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein component c) comprises n-docosanol.
 15. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein the condensation reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 200 to 250° C.
 16. The mixed ether of claim 9, wherein sulfonic acid and/or methanesulfonic acid, are used in the condensation reaction.
 17. A cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparation comprising the mixed ethers of claim
 9. 